Ling-Mei Black shuttlecocks

A high-quality goose feather shuttlecock for practice or play, offering excellent value for money! Also approved as a Class 1 competition shuttlecock.

Material: 100% goose feather
Speed: 78
Cork: Natural cork

Authentic shuttlecocks are made from genuine goose and duck feathers (16 feathers per shuttlecock). There are differences in the materials used for the feathers and the quills.

Environmental conditions affect the shuttlecock’s durability and flight path (hot, cold, humid, or dry air). The speed of a natural feather shuttlecock is indicated by numbers (depending on the shuttlecock’s weight). – The most common speed used in Finland is 78; a slower shuttlecock speed is 77 (hot, humid air).

The best Class 1 competition shuttlecocks (approved for competitions by the International Badminton Federation, among others) are made of goose feathers. These shuttlecocks undergo a multi-step manufacturing process in which only the best feathers are selected (sorted into similar groups based on shape and size). In the final stage, the flight path of the shuttlecocks is tested to ensure that the shuttlecocks in the tube are as identical as possible.

Shuttlecocks remain in good condition for a few months under normal room conditions.

The best place to store the balls is a humid environment. The balls should not be stored in the cold, and especially not in freezing temperatures. The ideal humidity is around 80–90%. In freezing air, the balls begin to dry out and the durability of the natural feathers decreases. In such cases, the feathers break easily, especially on mis-hits. Cold, dry winter air (do not store shuttlecocks in a cold car) reduces their durability.

You can gently humidify the shuttlecocks, for example, by steaming the shuttlecock tube. However, do not over-moisten the shuttlecocks.

In the summer, humid and warm air causes moisture to bind to the shuttlecocks, making them slightly heavier (and thus faster), but their durability is often better.